THE PERFECT TEN (Boxed Set)

son.”
    A chill ran through Kasey.
    Angie put her arm around Kasey’s shoulder. “Sorry. We didn’t know. We’re glad you’re here. You’ll love this town. The people are wonderful.”
    Kasey gave her a wan smile. “I can see that. Thanks.” Her eyes grew moist. “It’s still kind of hard.”
    “I’m sure,” Angie said. “Don’t worry about tears. We understand. Most of us were out there helping look for your little angel.”
    Everyone in the small group nodded.
    “You know, Kasey,” Dusty said, his tone upbeat, “I would bet money that Chaz has pictures of that place from before y’all bought it. If he doesn’t, Garrett Malloy will. He did most of the renovation work. Let’s ask Chaz when he gets here.”
    “That’d be great,” Kasey said, relieved at the change in subject.
    “Kasey is a professional photographer,” Scott said.
    With that Kasey reached for her camera bag and lifted it out of the case. “Be forewarned. I was telling Scott: it’s an occupational hazard. Does anyone mind if I take pictures?”
    “No, no, we don’t mind.” Everyone shook their heads smiled.
    Before Kasey could snap her first photo, Chaz and his wife walked in, followed by Scott’s duck hunting buddy, Jeff, and the dispatcher from the police station, Allison.
    “Hey, everyone,” Chaz said in his booming voice. He grabbed a beer from a tub of ice, tossed a diet soda to his wife, and handed a beer to Allison. Then he noticed Kasey. “Hey-ey-ey, I see you’ve met the new girl in town.”
    Kasey waved from across the room.
    “How did you and Scott meet?” Chaz’s wife asked.
    Kasey and Scott shared a look, then laughed.
    Kasey put up her hands. “I’m not talking.”
    Everyone looked curious.
    “I sprung her from jail after Deputy Dan arrested her,” Scott said, and paused for a reaction.
    The room got quiet.
    Allison almost choked on a swallow of beer. “Oh, no. You’re not the one he accused of stealing Scott’s car, then threw you in the slammer?”
    Kasey nodded and put both of her hands in the air. “Guilty.”
    “Man. We’ve been riding him all week about that. That man gets in more fixes.”
    “All right,” Scott said. “Now let’s be fair. Everything worked out, and we got to meet our new neighbor. How about a toast to our new friend Kasey?”
    Everyone raised their glasses and cheered.
    Allison waved from across the room, capturing Kasey’s attention. “You know, you look so familiar. I just can’t place you. Have we met?”
    “I don’t think so. I haven’t been here long,” Kasey said.
    “And you’re a photographer?” Allison asked.
    “Yes.”
    Allison’s brows pulled together. “Really? Like at the Walmart?”
    Kasey smiled, trying not to snicker. “No. Not exactly. I shoot advertisements and calendars, commercial photography. Celebrities, cars, that kind of stuff.”
    Allison squealed in a pitch so high that the people around her leaned away. She snapped her fingers. “Oh. My. God! ” She bounced as she spoke. “I know who you are. You’re the Kasey Phillips that was on tour with Cody Tuggle. I can’t believe it. I just love him. You were dating him?”
     

 
    Chapter Twenty-Four
     
    Kasey felt the color drain from her face. “No. No. No. You can’t believe everything you read. I was shooting his tour. It was a job. That’s it.”
    “But you’re like friends, right?”
    “Yeah.” Her mood lifted a little. “Yeah, I’d call him a friend.”
    “I keep hoping he’ll come to the Carolina Crossroads. I'm dying to see him in concert.”
    “I photographed the tour for a book that will be coming out later this year,” Kasey said. “I’ll get you a copy.”
    “Oh. My. Gosh! Like, he is so freakin’ hot, and I read in that newspaper—which one was it? —I don’t remember, but I did see y’all on the cover together. You looked pretty cozy. I am so jealous.”
    A momentary look of discomfort crossed Scott’s face.
    Kasey said, “Strictly business. He’s a nice guy. We were running to the car and dodging paparazzi. That’s it.”
    Allison winked at her. “Oh. Okay.”
    “I’m serious.” Kasey could tell there was no changing Allison’s opinion. To her that gossip rag was gospel. Kasey started to say something else, but figured there was no point.
    Thankfully, Chaz shifted the conversation and the group headed out to the patio.
    Scott’s outdoor kitchen was as nice as the one indoors. A propane grill took up at least five feet of one end